Electric furnace.



J. M. BOCUZE.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. a, 1912.

1,053,563. Patented Eeb .18,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. M. BOGUZEL ELECTRIC FURNACE... APPLICATION FILED OUT. 8, 1912.

1,053,563. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

' 3,3HEE'1B-BEEET 2- W QM i% W QW J. M,- BOGUZE. ELECTRIC FURNACE. 'AP-PLIOATION FILED 0018, 1912.'

1,053,563; Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3x FIG g/mmrs uklo an i UNITED STATES rA'rENr OFFICE.

\ JEAN MARI E IBOCUZE, F LYON, FRANCE.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 18, 1913.

Application filed October 8, 19}2. Serial No. 724,62'4. l

proposed in which the crucible or the elec To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known-that I, JEAN MARIE Boonzn, a citizen of France, residing at 7 Avenue du Parc, Lyon, Rhcne, in the Republic of France, have invented new'and useful Improvements in Electric Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved electric furnace, more especially intended for melting metals, and especiallyprecious metals and alloys, in which the ci'ucible is heated by the radiation from two or more pairs of electrodes heated, by the current and between which an arc is formed.

Furnaces of this kind have already been trodes, receives a vertical reciprocating movement, but in these known furnaces the part having the reciprocating movement has at the same time a movementof rotation on itself. These movements present great practical difliculties, especially if-applied to the electrodes andif the crucible-is to be operated greatdifliculties are also found in communicating to it simultaneously the movement of rotation and the reciprocating movement, especially by reason of the fact that the crucible, filled with metal in fusion,

is very heavy and shocks and sudden movements must, be avoided to prevent undue wear and tear and accidents. These .diliiculties are overcome by the present inventioh, by the fact that the crucible is given a simple movement of rotation on its axis, while the electrodes are given only a vertical reciprocating movement;

The invention 'further comprises certain features in the furnace which will be hereinafter described andclaimed;

The annexed drawing illustrates an example of construction of the improved furnace, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the furnace; F1g.-2 1s a vertical section transversely to that shown in Fi 1. Fi 3 is a hori- D zontal section. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the cover of the crucible lowered thereon.

The furnace proper A has, in the construction showman octagonal shape. It is formed by a metal jacket provided with a. lining of refractorysubstance. In the in terior'of this furnace is the plumbago crucible B, which is provided below with a square part B by which it rests in, a sleeve E. This sleeve is provided withasqua're hole. which fits on the end I) of. a vertical shaft- D which is supported in a socket T and carries a bevel pinion C rotated by a similarpmlon 2 mounted on a drlving shaft 3 whereby the crucible can be rotated on its axis in a continuous manner.

The furnace A rests on a metal frame t and 1t 1s provided-with lateral metal plates 5 (Fig. 2) on which are fixed two horizontal pivots Z (Fig. 4). These pivots rest in bearings R which are carried by chairs Q,- by means ofscrew threaded rods S which can be rotatedby means of spiders U and by means of which the vertical position of the furnace can be regulated. allow of the furance being swung for easting, for which purpose their ends are squared as at Z on which a key S as shown in Fig. 3, can be engaged. The furnace means of'a .chaiifllv fixed to the frame at and in which the crucible carrying shaft D is guided and supported, and by means of a cover P which may be lowered by means of The pivots Z 7 draws the crucible in this moven'lcnt. by 7 a threaded rod 0 and hand wheel 0 so that it caps the top of the crucible. The vertical rim of this cover is-provided with an opening at the place of the casting nozzle of the crucible and the furnace A is provided with a casting channel X at the corresponding position. The screw 0 is carried by a cap .N which is mounted on the cover M of the a regulatable manner on a vertical rod H. 100

The two rods H are joined together at their upper end and can eifect a vertical to-andfro movement with the. electrodes, being guided in a support I which comprises four cylinders or sockets. their movement by means of a roller H operated by an eccentric F keyed on the shaft '3 of the pinion 2. The support I can be moved horizontallytoward or away from the furnace as deslred, to regulate the posiprovidedwith a nut J working one. screw The two electrodes The rods H receive tion of the electrodes. For this purpose it is L which can be turned by means of a hand wheel L It is also guided into a slide K bolted to the chair W and supported at its end by'a socket of the pillar 7 which at the same time maintains the" furnace vertical. The current is conducted to the electrodes in any appropriate way.

During the operation the, electrodes and the arcs formed between the furnish the heat necessary for the fusiorr or combustion of the'matters. contained in the crucible. The refractory envelop jacket surrounding the crucible prevents any external radiation whichis thus concentrated in the crucible. The electrodes having .no contact with the fused substances cannot introduce impurities therein, which is especially advantageous for the fusion of precious metals and the manufacture of alloys. Owing to the rotation of the crucible, which may be con- 'tinuous in the same direction or alternate in both directions, combined with'the vertical reciprocating movement of the eleotrodes, the bath is uniformly heated in all parts. When casting it is sufficient to lower the cover I. and to swing the furnace without taking out the crucible, so that the operation is easy.

The invention is not limited to the actual details of the construction represented. There can for instance be any suitable number '-of electrodes distributed in different fashions around the crucible.

Having now-dcscribed my invention,wl1at I claim as ne and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric furnace, in combination: acrucible, means for rotating the crucible On its axis, electrodes arranged around the crucible, means for forming electric arcs between the electrodes, and mea s for imparting to the electrodes a reciprocating movement along the crucible, substantially as de scribed and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric furnace, in combination:

acrucible, a furnace casing containing and supporting said crucible, means for tilting the crucible and the furnace casing around horizontal pivots, a rotating vertical shaft connected to the crucible so as'to carry the same in its rotation, a bevel gear on said shaft, a horizontal shaft, 21 bevel gear on said horizontal shaft in mesh with the first bevel gear, means for rotating the horizontal shaft, electrodesextending between the crucible and the furnace casing, means for formingelectric arcs between the electrodes, a support carrying the electrodes, a

supporting said crucible, means for tilting the crucible and thefurnace casing around horizontal pivots, a rotating vertical shaft connected to the crucible so as to carry the same in its rotation, a bevel gear on said shaft, a horizontal shaft, a bevel gear on said horizontal shaft in mesh with the first bevel gear, means for rotating the horizontal shaft, electrodes extending between the crucible and the furnace casing, means for forming electric arcs betwec the electrodes, vertical rods carrying the electrodes,

a supporting member in which the vertical rods are guided, a slide in which the supporting member is ho 'izontally guided toward and away from the crucible, said slide being fixed to the furnace casing, means for displacing .the supporting member'in the slide, a roller carried by the vertical rods and an eccentric carried by the horizontal shaft and engaging with said roller, substantially as described and for the purpose set. forth.

4. Inan electriefurnace, in combination: a crucible, a furnace casing containing and supporting said crucible, av cover for said crucible, means for lowering said cover upon the crucible and clamping the latter in the furnace casing when desired, a laterally pivoting cover for the furnace, upon which the crucible cover is supported, means for tilting the crucible and the furnace casing around horizontal pivots, means for rotating the crucible on its axis, electrodes extending between the crucible and the furnace casing, means for forming electric arcs between the electrodes, means supported by the furnace casing and carrying the electrodes so that the latter are movable and adjustable thereon'and means for imparting to the electrodes a reciprocating movementalong the crucible, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEAN MARIE BOCUZE.

lVitnesses LOUIS Moses, Hanson C. Coxn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for' five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

